Baking pan

ABSTRACT

A baking pan comprising a plurality of individual cups joined together in side-by-side relationship. The individual cups are joined together on first outer edge portions of flanges which extend outwardly from the sidewalls of adjacent cups and which coincide with the sides of a polygon. A circumferential band encompasses the cups to complete the basic pan assembly.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edwin H. Leedy Hinsdale, I11.

[21] Appl. No. 30,911

[22] Filed Apr. 22,1970

[45] Patented Jan. 11,1972

[7 3] Assignee Ekco Products, Inc.

Wheeling, Ill.

[54] BAKING PAN 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 220/212 [51] Int. Cl 865d 21/02 [50] Field of Search220/232,

23.4, 23.8, 74; 113/120 G, 120 V, 120 CC [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 1,634,248 6/1927 Katzinger 220/232 3,332,571 7/1967 Leedy220/232 1,979,664 11/1934 Birkenhauer 220/232 X 3,520,438 7/1970 Ahrens220/232 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,542,731 9/1968 France 220/234 PrimaryExaminerGeorge E. Lowrance AttorneysRobert D. Teichert and Donald .1.Koprowski ABSTRACT: A baking pan comprising a plurality of individualcups joined together in side-by-side relationship. The individual cupsare joined together on first outer edge portions of flanges which extendoutwardly from the sidewalls of adjacent cups and which coincide withthe sides of a polygon. A circumferential band encompasses the cups tocomplete the basic pan assembly.

PATENTEDJAMHBYZ SHEET 1 [IF 3 FIG. 2

Inventor Edwin H. Leedy By 2 Ahorney PATENTED JAN] 1 I972 SHEET 2 BF 3lnvev mor Edwm H. Legady Horney Flicl PATENTEDJANI 1 I972 3,633,786

SHEET 3 OF 3 Inventor Edwin H. Leedy BY M WM- Attorney BAKING PANBACKGROUND OF TH E INVENTION This invention relates to baking pans andmore particularly to such pans comprising a plurality of cups, molds, orcompartments, joined together in side-by-side relationship, for thebaking of breads, buns, rolls, sweet goods, cakes, and othercomestibles.

In the baking of a multiplicity of baked products in cups in a singlepan set, the following are of prime importance:

a. Achieve the greatest number of baked-product units per square foot ofspace in the oven, proof box, cooler, and other types of productionequipment, commensurate with the size, shape, and other particularcharacteristics of the finished bake product;

b. Provide for the adaptability of pan set construction to endlessshapes and sizes of cups without compromising cup configuration toaccommodate the construction method;

c. Within the confines of a designated cup size, provide means forvarying the cup centers to achieve a specific condition of spacingbetween cups and/or to achieve an overall pan size to accommodate thecharacteristics of the baked product or requirements of productionequipment;

d. Provide mechanical strength and stability adequate to withstandabuses in mechanical and hand handling of pan sets;

e. Make the pan sets as lightweight as possible, while maintaining thedesired strength and stability, thereby providing for easier handling,minimizing consumption of heat in pan heatup and therefore achievingminimum baking time;

f. Minimize seams, capillaries, abutments, projections and otherconfigurations in pan structure where soil can collect and resistremoval in washing; and

g. Be able to select bakepan materials to provide flexibility in panweight, resistance to corrosion and adaptability to bakingcharacteristics.

In addition, because of the great demand for a great variety ofcustom-made and custom-shaped pans by the baking industry, it isdesirable to be able to provide the advantages and flexibility mentionedabove with a basic pan construction concept adaptable to all existingand anticipated requirements.

Several of the above advantages are provided in the bakery pan disclosedin my earlier US Pat. No. 3,332,571. For example, that pan achieves ahigh number of baked-product units per square foot of space in bakeryequipment and also is improved in mechanical strength and stability overthe prior art pans. However, in that earlier invention, the shape of theindividual cups is limited to the shape disclosed. More particularly,because the sidewalls of the cups provide the surface upon whichmultiple welds are made, the sidewalls of each cup are required to haveflat vertical surfaces to provide the necessary area to locate suchwelds. It becomes obvious that other shapes, such as round or oval orelliptical, or any tapered cup cannot be achieved in that constructionwithout modification of cup configuration to provide the flat verticalsurface. Nor does that invention, for a given cup size, provide meansfor varying cup centers to achieve a specific condition of spacingbetween cups and/or to achieve an overall pan size to accommodatecharacteristics of the baked product or requirements of productionequipment. Thus, the present invention is directed at overcoming thesedisadvantages, as well as providing a pan having all of the advantagesabove described. Other objects and advantages will become apparent fromthe description of the drawings and preferred embodiments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates the provision of abaking pan having a plurality of cups, each cup having a bottom wall, asidewall extending upwardly therefrom defining a top opening and aflange extending outwardly from the sidewall forming a border about thetop opening. The flange is configured to provide first outer edgeportions of dimension measured peripherally of the top opening whichcoincide with the sides of a polygon, preferably a rectangle. Means areincluded for securing a group of like bakepan cups in side-by-side fixedas sembly which may include one or more depending tongues formedintegrally with the flange of each cup along the first outer edgeportions of the flanges. The tongues, when used, are aligned with liketongues of adjacent pan cups in the group. The flanges of the cups mayinclude second edge portions which extend transversely of each of thecorners of the polygon with which the first outer edge portions of theflanges coincide whereby the second edge portions of the flange of aselected cup and the corresponding second edge portions of adjacent cupscooperate to form an opening between the selected pan cup and theadjacent pan cups. A circumferential band encompasses the multiple-cupassembly.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the preferredembodiment of the pan assembly of my invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an elevational view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of one cup of the pan of my invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial plan view showing two adjacent cups of apan of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 66 of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6a is partial sectional view showing the joint between cups afterwelding has been completed.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a first alternate embodiment of myinvention.

FIG. 8 is an inverted elevational view of a portion of the pan of thepreferred embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the first alternate embodiment of myinvention showing an alternate cup shape.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of a second alternate embodiment of myinvention.

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the second alternate embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As a preferred or exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, the drawings in FIGS. 1 through 3illustrate generally a pan 10 having rows of individual cups l2interconnected to each other and surrounded by a circumferential band14. Additional strength may be provided by adding interior cross braces16, the number and placement, depending on the overall size of pan 10and the cup 12.

Although one of the advantages of the invention is its adaptability to alimitless number of cup shapes, for purposes of illustration each of thecups 12 shown in the preferred embodiment in FIGS. 1 and 4 through 6 issubstantially circular and is comprised of a bottom wall 18, a sidewall20 extending upwardly from the bottom wall 18 defining a top opening 21and a flange 22 extending outwardly from the sidewall 20 and forming aborder about the top opening 21. The flange 22 of each cup 12 is shownto have first outer edge portions 22a which coincide with the sides of arectangle, although shapes of other polygons may be employed. Securing agroup of cups 12 in a side-by-side fixed assembly may be accomplished byseveral means such as, but not limited to:

1. Resistanceor arc-welding the abutting edges of adjacent cupsutilizing only parent cup material in the flat cup flange.

2. Arc-welding the abutting edges of adjacent cups utilizing suitablefiller material to supplement the parent material in the flat cupflange.

3. Brazing the abutting edges of adjacent cups utilizing suitable fillermaterial.

4. The preferred method is to provide one or more depending tongues 24formed integrally with the flange 22 along the first outer edge portion22a. After welding, the mating tongues 24 of adjacent cups 12 are melteddown to form a fused weld nugget 25 spanning the flanges 22 of adjacentcups to bond the cups into a fixed assembly. The tongues 24 remaining onthe cups on the perimeter of the fixed cup assembly serve no purpose andmay be removed to facilitate attaching of the circumferential band 14 tothe cup assembly.

Preferably, the flange 22 of each of the pan cups 12 has second edgeportions 22b which extend transversely of each of the corners of thepolygon with which the first outer edge portions 22a of the flange 22coincide. Thus, the second edge portions of the flange of a selected pancup and the corresponding second edge portion of adjacent cups facingsecond edge portion of the selected pan cup cooperate to form an openarea 26 between the selected pan cup and adjacent pan cups, as bestshown in FIG. 1. Preferably, the second edge portion 2217 includes adownwardly extending lip 28 formed integrally with flange 22. The lip 28serves to strengthen the second edge portion 22b. A bevel 28a may beprovided at each end of lip 28 so that when any two adjacent cups areconnected, a drain opening 29 is formed as shown in FIG. 8. The opening29 provides for drainage of cleaning solutions and retrieval of greasingmaterials when the pan is inverted as shown. It should be apparent thatwhile a bevel 28 a is shown, any configuration that allows cleaning andgreasing materials to flow from the flange 22 out through such opening29 and out into open area 26 could be employed.

An alternative method of providing an open area 26 would be to eliminatethe second edge portion 22a of flange 22 on the cup 12 and insteadpierce or pierce and emboss the opening 26 after assembly of the cups 12into the multiple-cup assembly or attaching of the circumferential band14 to the cup assembly.

Each cup 12 may be made in any conventional manner, such as a processcomprising the steps of drawing, trimming and forming, well known in theart.

In assembling the pan, adjacent cups 12 are preferably first attached toeach other on first outer edge portions 22a to form single rows. Forexample, FIG. 1 shows rows of cups comprised of six cups each at A, B,C, and D. Adjacent rows are then attached to each other, again on firstouter edge portions 22a, and the circumferential band 14 is secured tothe periphery. Any amount of rows and any amount of cups in each row maybe used to comply with a bakers requirements.

As above stated, welding is the preferred means for attaching the cups12 to each other and to the reinforcing strap 14 surrounding the cups12. FIG. 1 shows two welds 30 between each pair of adjacent cups, eachinterior cup 12 thus having a total of eight welds 30, Obviously, moreor fewer welds 30 could be employed, as long as they provided sufficientstrength between cups I2. The tongues 24 add strength to the welds 30.When a method such as Tungsten Inert Gas spot welding is used, thetongues 24 melt and form the nugget 25 between the flanges 22 ofadjacent cups 12. FIG. 6, for example, shows tongues 24 on adjacent cupsl2 aligned before welding. FIG. 6a shows the nugget 25 produced bywelding. It should be understood that different types of welding may beused, and that, in some cases, the strength of welds 28 may besufficient without the provision of tongues 24. For example, FIG. 7shows a first alternate embodiment of my invention, namely, a cup devoidof the tongues 24 such as those shown in FIG. 4. To attach several ofthe cups shown in FIG. 7 to each other the cups are welded along firstouter edge portions 22a.

When required for additional strength, cross braces 16 may be welded tocups l2 and to circumferential band 14. The circumferential band 14 ispreferably secured to the periphery of cups 12 by a continuous weld 34along the outer length of flange 22, thereby completing the pan 10.

The configuration and construction of circumferential band 14 is widelyvariable to achieve a compatible assembly relationship between the outercup flange 22 and the circumferential band 14, and may include asupplementary band (not shown) between circumferential band 14 and theoutermost row of cups where required to supply added filler material asmay be necessary to the assembly method.

FIG. 9 shows another of the endless different shapes of cups that may beused in this invention. This particular view shows an elliptical cupshape utilized in the first alternate embodiment. It is easily seen thatcups having square, rectangular, and other polygonal shapes and oval,star shapes, cups with convolutions or flutes in the walls, etc., justto mention a few, may be used. The important fact is that the shape andsize and depth of the cup is independent of the construction of thisinvention and that cup configuration does not have to be compromised toaccommodate such construction. Thus, just by simple machine and fixtureadjustment of suitable production equipment, many varieties of cups andpan assemblies can be fabricated on the same equipment.

It should also be apparent from the foregoing that cup centers may bevaried by varying the width of flange 22 to accommodate specificcharacteristics of baked products or pr0duction equipment.

As a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 10and 11 show a cup 112 having a bottom wall 118, a sidewall extendingupwardly from the bottom wall 118 defining a top opening 12!, and aflange I22 extending outwardly from the sidewall 120. In this embodimenteach side of flange 122 has first outer edge portions 1220 which areprovided with depending tongues 124. In this embodiment the tongue 124provides additional strength and also serves as a welding surface.Second outer edge portions 122!) in the flange 122 provide an opening129 for the drainage of grease and cleaning agents when the pan isassembled,

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction andarrangement of parts without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the formshereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment and onealternative embodiment thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A bakepan comprising a plurality of individual bakepan cups fixedlyassembled in side-by-side relation, each of said bakepan cups having abottom wall, a sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom walldefining a top opening, and a flange extending horizontally outwardlyfrom said sidewall forming a border about said top opening, said flangebeing configured to provide first outer edge portions of dimensionmeasured peripherally of said top opening which coincide with the sidesof a regular polygon and having at least one depending tongue formedintegrally therewith along said first outer edge portions of saidflange, which tongues are aligned with like tongues of the cups of saidpan in adjacent relation thereto said cups of said bakepan beingconnected by a welded connection between each of said tongues and thetongues of the neighboring pan cups with which each of said cups hasabutting engagement, and said flange of each of said cups of saidbakepan having second edge portions which extend transversely of each ofthe corners of the polygon with which said first outer edge portions ofsaid flange coincide, whereby said second edge portions of the flange ofa selected pan cup and the corresponding second edge portion of adjacentpan cups facing said second portions of said selected pan cup cooperateto form an open area between said selected pan cup and said adjacent pancups, each of said outer edge portions of said flange having adownwardly extending lip formed integrally with said flange, the edge ofeach lip being beveled so that when one cup is aligned with an adjacentcup, said beveled lip of one cup will be aligned adjacent to the beveledlip of said adjacent cup to form a V-shaped notch to allow for drainageof liquids from said pan through said open areas when said pan isinverted.

2. A bakepan according to claim I wherein said polygon is a rectangle.

3. A bakepan according to claim 1 wherein the flange of the pan cups onthe perimeter of said pan have a fixed connection with a metal band withwhich said outwardly facing flanges have abutting engagement wherebysaid band provides a circumferential rim along the outer edge of saidpan.

IF 4K

1. A bakepan comprising a plurality of individual bakepan cups fixedlyassembled in side-by-side relation, each of said bakepan cups having abottom wall, a sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom walldefining a top opening, and a flange extending horizontally outwardlyfrom said sidewall forming a border about said top opening, said flangebeing configured to provide first outer edge portions of dimensionmeasured peripherally of said top opening which coincide with the sidesof a regular polygon and having at least one depending tongue formedintegrally therewith along said first outer edge portions of saidflange, which tongues are aligned with like tongues of the cups of saidpan in adjacent relation thereto said cups of said bakepan beingconnected by a welded connection between each of said tongues and thetongues of the neighboring pan cups with which each of said cups hasabutting engagement, and said flange of each of said cups of saidbakepan having second edge portions which extend transversely of each ofthe corners of the polygon with which said first outer edge portions ofsaid flange coincide, whereby said second edge portions of the flange ofa selected pan cup and the corresponding second edge portion of adjacentpan cups facing said second portions of said selected pan cup cooperateto form an open area between said selected pan cup and said adjacent pancups, each of said outer edge portions of said flange having adownwardly extending lip formed integrally with said flange, the edge ofeach lip being beveled so that when one cup is aligned with an adjacentcup, said beveled lip of one cup will be aligned adjacent to the beveledlip of said adjacent cup to form a Vshaped notch to allow for drainageof liquids from said pan through said open areas when said pan isinverted.
 2. A bakepan according to claim 1 wherein said polygon is arectangle.
 3. A bakepan according to claim 1 wherein the flange of thepan cups on the perimeter of said pan have a fixed connection with ametal band with which said outwardly facing flanges have abuttingengagement whereby said band provides a circumferential rim along theouter edge of said pan.